Skipper Kane Williamson hit his first ever ICC World Cup century to steer New Zealand to a four-wicket win over South Africa in a rain-affected match at Edgbaston Wednesday, a loss which sent the latter crashing out of the tournament.
Chasing, 242 for victory, Williamson scratched around early on a challenging wicket but improved along the way and blasted South African pacer Andile Phehlukwayo’s slower ball out the ground to level the scores and bring up his hundred in the final over, where the Kiwis needed eight runs. He then hit the very next ball to the boundary to end unbeaten on 106.
Williamson, who got a life after he edged spinner Imran Tahir to wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock on 76 but lived on because the Kiwis did not go for a review, faced 138 balls and hit nine fours and a six in his match-winning innings.
But he had an able partner in Colin de Grandhomme, who hit a 46-ball 60 and more importantly produced boundaries during their sixth-wicket stand to ease the pressure when they needed them.
Chris Morris bagged three for 49 for the South Africans and had ripped out the more senior middle order Kiwi batsmen to give his side a fighting chance to steal the game.
But Williamson was determined that there was to be no South African heroics in this match and with de Grandhomme produced the closest finish in the tournament.
New Zealand rose to the top of the 10-team table with nine points, one more than Australia and England and two more than fourth-placed India. Bangladesh, who are fifth with five points, play Australia Thursday.
Earlier, South Africa’s innings was built around a steady knock 55 from veteran Hashim Amla, who reached 8,000 ODI runs in the process. He shared in a 50-run second wicket partnership with Faf du Plessis (23) and 52 for the third with Aiden Markram (38). However, on a pitch which seemed two-paced due to the wet weather around, South Africa struggled to gain momentum and only a late quickfire 67 off 64 balls from Rassie van der Dussen gave them a little hope.
Pacer Lockie Ferguson was the best Kiwis bowler with three for 59.
Summarised scores:
South Africa 241-6 (49) (Hashim Amla 55, Rassie van der Dussen 67, Aiden Markram 38, Lockie Ferguson 3-59) v New Zealand 245-6 (Kane Williamson 106*, Colin de Grandhomme 60, Chris Morris 3/49)
Result: New Zealand won by four wickets.